Fluid sampler



W'. A. PITTs FLUID SAMPLER Feb. -l0, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l,1956 H w A G m m ,5* v Z 2 '37, v54l INVENTOR.

W|H|amA.P|Hs, i BY yFIG.2.

ATTORNEY- Feb. l0, 1959 W.-A. PlTTs 2,872,817

FLUID SAMPLER Filed June l, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SAMPLE TUBE HOUSINGJUST AFTER DISCHARGE FILLING SAMPLE CATCHER FIG. 6.

AIR SUPPLY FIG] DISCHARGING SAMPLE TUBE INVENTOR.

William A. Pitts,

BY I

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ou FLUID SAMPLER William A. Pitts, Bellaire, Tex.,assigner, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company,Tulsa, lrla., a corporation of Delaware Application June 1, 1956, SerialNo. 588,687

11 Claims. (Cl. 73-422) This invention is directed to a device fortaking uid samples. More specifically, it is directed to a device fortaking samples of fluid owing in a pipe or retained in a vessel.

This invention is also directed to a fluid sampling device adaptable foruse in a fluid meter.

An object of this invention is take samples of uid ilo-wing in a conduitor retained in a vessel without atleeting the pressure of the system,the flow of the iluid or risking contamination or escape of the fluid.

The usual procedure in sampling fluids is to tap the vessel containingthe uids and draw off a desired sample. However, this method isdisadvantageous since when the tluid is a mixture of several tluidswhich will separate and settle out, it is difficult to determine whereto tap the vessel in order to obtain a representative, proportionalsample. Generally, it is necessary to tap at several representativelocations. However, even then the quantity taken by each tap influencesthe percentage make-up of the composite sample.

This invention overcomes the difficulty in obtaining representativesamples by having the sampler member traverse completely the vessel.Briefly, this invention provides an improved sampler for sampling fluidsin a receptacle and comprises a body member mounted on the receptacleprovided with a valve chamber and rst and second passageways. A valvemember having first and second positions is slidably arranged in thevalve chamber. Biasing means is arranged in the chamber adapted to urgethe valve member to a first position. A piston housing is mounted on thereceptacle provided with spaced apart ports each tluidly communicatingthe interior and exterior of the housing. A shaft is arranged in thehousing having a third passageway therein and an open-ended sample tubehaving rst and second positions is slidably arranged on the shaft and isprovided with first and second passageways. A piston head is connectedto the tube and movable therewith between the spaced apart ports, thetube being provided with ports and a shoulder adjacent one end thereof.A movable plug member is arranged in the tube, and the tube engagedlyconnects with the valve member to move the valve member to a secondposition when the tube moves to its second position. The iirstpassageway fluidly communicates the tube ports with the exterior of thebody when the tube is in the second position; the second passagewayluidly communicates the interior of the receptacle and the valvechamber; and the third passageway tluidly communicates the interior oftheV tube, the exterior of the housing and the interior of the housingwhen the tube is in the second position and fluid pressure means areprovided operative Vin the housing adapted to reciprocate the tube.

The invention also contemplates use of the sampler in conjunction withan automatic metering system wherein a sample of uid is removed from thereceptacle in each metering cycle. Herein a metering tank is providedwith 2,872,817 Patented Feb. lG, 1959 ice first valve means forcontrolled admission and discharge of fluid to and from the tank. Achamber is mounted on the tank. Second valve means is positioned betweenthe chamber and the tank and is adapted to selectively permit andprevent tluid flow therebetween. A first control means is connected tothe chamber operatively responsive to the iluid Ilevel in the chamberand a second control means uidly communicating with rst valve means isoperatively responsive to liquid discharge from the tank. A housing ismounted on the tank provided with tubular piston means slidably arrangedtherein and extensive through the tank and is adapted to remove a iluidsample from the tank. A plug member is arranged in the piston member forforcing the fluid sample from the piston member. A body member ismounted on the tank and is provided with a passageway lluidlycommunicating the interior and exterior of the body member. Third valvemeans is arranged in the body member adapted to tluidly communicate theinterior of the piston means and the passageway when the piston meansextends through the tank. A signal transmission means operativelyconnecting the first and second control means with the rst and secondvalve means and the housing is provided. The rst and second -controlmeans cooperate with the signal transmission means for actuating thefirst valve means for admitting fluid to the tank and for opening thesecond valve means and for actuating the piston means to retract thepiston means and plug member from the tank and for actuating the rstvalve means for discharging fluid from the tank and for closing thesecond valve means and for actuating the piston means to move the pistonmeans through the tank and for actuating the plug mmber to move the plugmember through the piston means.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view of the sampler connected to afluid-containing rceptacle or conduit.

. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional of the sampler positioned in a sampletaking position.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the sampler.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another modification.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are schematic showings of the sampler connected in ametering tank for automatic sampling operations.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein identical numeralsdesignate identical parts.

Figs, l and 2 show a housing l@ screw threadedly connected to areceptacle 11. The housing lil is provided with ports 12 and It to whichare connected conduits 14 and 15, respectively. A shart 16 is arrangedin housing 10. The shaft 16 is provided with an upper closure member 17that closes the upper end of housing 1t) and a shoulder 1S adjacent theupper end of shaft 16. The shaft i6 may be made integral with housing 10or may be connected thereto by any desired means. A passageway 8 extendslongitudinally through shaft i6 and closure member 17. A pressure reliefvalve 9 is arranged on the upper end of passageway 8. A laterallyextending passageway 19 is formed in shaft i6 adjacent the lower endthereof and fluidly communicates passageway 8 and the interior ofhousing iti. An open-ended sample tube 2li is slidably arranged on shaft16 and is provided with a piston head 2l and a shoulder 53 at its upperend, ports 22 adjacent its lower end and an internal shoulder 23positioned below ports 22. Also, the lower inner end of tube 20 isbeveled upwardly and inwardly as at 24. The stationary shaft i6 isprovided with sealing means 25 and the tubular member is provided withsealing means 26 adjacent the wall of housing 10 and sealing means 27adjacent the wall of the shaft 16. The housing 10 is also provided witha lower wall 51 and a sealing means 28 adjacent its lower end. Thesesealing member may suitably be -rings. A plug or piston member 2-9 ispositioned in the interior of the sampling tube 2G above shoulder 23.

Aligned with housing on the opposite side of the co-ntainer 11 is a bodymember 3d screw threadedly connected thereto. Body member 3G is providedwith a shoulder 54 and chamber 31 which is open to the interior ofcontainer 11. A passageway 32 iluidly communicates the interior of thecontainer 11 and the lower end of the chamber 31. A cup-shaped valvemember 33 is positioned in chamber 31. The upper end of valve member 33is cut away to provide a beveled seat 34 for engagement with the beveledportion 24 of the lower end of sample tube 20. A spring 35 is arrangedin chamber 31 normally biasing the valve member 33 to close the openingin body 3i? to container 11. A second passageway 36 is provided in body30 and extends from chamber 31 to the exterior of the body 30. Thepassageway 36 is provided with an enlarged portion 37 in which ispositioned a check valve which includes ball or sphere 39 biasedupwardly by spring 33 normally to close off lluid llow throughpassageway 36 from the exterior of body 30. Chamber 31 is provided witha shoulder 46 which provides a stop for the lateral extensions 41 ofvalve 33 to limit the upward movement of valve 33. A plurality of seals42, which may suitably be O-rings, may be arranged on body 3() adjacentvalve member 33 to prevent the passage of iluids between Valve 33 andthe inner walls of body 30.

Fig. 2 illustrates the position of the tubular sample member 20 in itsextended position. The piston or plug member 29 is shown in itslowermost position wherein the lluid previously accumulated in tube 20has been discharged.

The modification of Fig. 3 provides a spring member S0 surroundingsample tube 20 in housing 10. In this instance one end of spring 5)engages with the lower wall 51 of housing 16 and the upper end of spring50 engages with a shoulder 52 formed on piston head 21. Spring member 50exerts an upward bias on tube 20. With this modification it isunnecessary to provide the conduit shown in Figs. l and 2.

The modication of Fig. 4 provides a sealing means 55 on the interior ofsampler tube 20 between the ports Z2 and the beveled seat 24. Thismodication may be employed in the embodiments of Figs. l and 2 or Fig.3.

To obtain a true proportion of the amounts of the ilm'ds sampled, when amixture of several iluids which tend to settle and separate is to besampled, it is preferred that the cross section of the receptacletraversed by the sample tube be of such shape and position that thevolume percentages of the fluids obtained in the sample tube be exactlyrepresentative of the volume percentages of the tluids contained in thereceptacle or ilowing through the cross section of the receptacle at thetime the sample tube traverses the receptacle.

An example of such an arrangement would be a horizontally extendingconduit having a square or rectangular cross section, two sides of whichwould be in horizontally extending planes. In this example the sampletube would operate in a vertical path between the two horizontallyextending sides.

In operation when it is desired to take a sample of iluid eithercontained in or llowing through receptacle 11, fluid pressure form anydesired source, such as an air supply, is transmitted through conduit14, port 12 and into the interior of housing 1). This fluid pressuremoves sample tube downwardly to engage with valve member 33. In thecourse of the traverse of tube 2t) through receptacle 11 the duidcontained therein enters the lower open end of tube 2li, thus fillingthe tube. As more clearly seen in Fig. 2, tubular sampler 20 continuesto move downwardly by the action of fluid pressure from conduit 14acting on piston head 18 until the beveled seating surface 24 on tubularmember 2t) seats on beveled seat 34 of valve member 33 then trapping arepresentative sample in tube 20. Further downward movement of tube 20causes valve 33 to move downwardly until the ports 22 are aligned withpassages 36 in body 30. At this point the tubular sampler is preventedfrom further downward movement by the shoulder 53 adjacent the pistonhead 1S engaging the lower wall 51 of housing 10 and also by lateralextension d1 of valve member 33 engaging with the shoulder 54 formed inchamber 31. When the piston has reached its lowermost postion and ports22 are aligned with passages 36, passages 19 in shaft 16 lluidlycommunicate the interior of the sample tube with the interior of housing19. `lust prior to alignment of ports 22 with passage 36, plug 29 is inthe upper portion of tube 20 as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2. Thefluid pressure imposed through conduit 14 employed to maintain thesampler tube in its lowermost position then also passes throughpassageway 19 to act on piston or plug 29 and force the plug downwardly.This movement of the plug downwardly forces the iluid sample previouslydrawn into the sample tube downwardly through ports 22, passage 36, pastball 39, through enlarged portion 37 and conduit 37 to a samplereceiving vessel not shown. The passageway 32 Iluidly communicating theinterior of the receptacle 11 and chamber 31 is utilized to equalize thepressures on both sides of valve member 33. This prevents pressure inreceptacle 11 from moving valve member 33 downwardly and having luids inreceptacle 11 directly enter passageway 36.

After the sample has been taken, the sample tube 20 is retracted byconnecting conduit 15 to a source of fluid pressure and having the iluidpressure pass through conduit 15, port 13 and into the interior ofhousing 10. The luid pressure then acts on the under side of piston 18,thereby moving the sample tube upwardly into its original position asshown in Fig. l. Retraction of the sample tube 20 permits the valvemember 33 to resume its original position, as seen in Fig. 1, under thebias of spring 35. The fluid pressure contained in housing 10 abovepiston head 18 is exhausted through conduit 14. Conversely, when movingdownwardly, the iluid pressure contained in housing 10 below piston head18 is exhausted through conduit 15. Pressure relief valve 9 is set toopen at a pressure in excess of that necessary to move tube 2t) and plug29 downwardly. Upon retraction of tube 2t), however, tube 20 closes oilpassageway 19, thereby entrapping fluid in tube 20. Excess iluidpressure escapes through passageway 3 and check valve 9 to theatmosphere.

The embodiment of Fig. 3 is similar in all respects to the embodimentshown and described for Figs. l and 2 except the means for retractingsample tube 2G has been changed from fluid pressure means, as shown inFigs. l and 2, to a spring biasing member 50. Accordingly, port 13 isutilized to exhaust the fluid pressure contained in sample tube 20. Thatis, the fluid pressure upon retraction is forced upwardly by the plug 29through passage 19 and out port 13. Hence, in operation, as in theprevious embodiment, lluid pressure is applied through conduit 14 andport 12 to the upper end of piston head 18, thereby moving sample tube20 downwardly against the bias of spring 50. Since passage 19 is closedoff until piston head 18 is positioned below the opening of passage 19to housing 10, the luid contained in housing 10 is exhausted throughport 13 as the sample tube 20 moves downwardly. On reaching thelowermast position whereby ports 22 and passage 36 are aligned or intluid communication, passageway 19 is in fluid communication with theinterior of housing 10. Fluid pressure then acts through passage 19 tomove plug 29 downwardly thereby forcing the sample fluids contained insample tube 20 downwardly and out through ports 22 and passageway 36 andcheck valve 37 through 39. Upon the release and exhaust of pressure inconduit 14, not shown, spring 50 moves sample tube 20 back to itsoriginal position exhausting the uids in housing above piston 18 outthrough port 12 and conduit 14.

The Fig. 4 embodiment provides a sealing means 55 on the interior ofsample tube 20 between the seating surface 24 and the stop shoulder 23.This sealing means is provided to insure that the fluid pressureexhausted from sample tube through port 22 and passage 36 does not flowto the engaged seating surfaces 24 and 34 to force or tend to forcesample tube 20 upwardly. This is a protective measure, since Huidpressure acting upwardly on surface 24 may cause sample tube 20 to moveupwardly, which would, of course, close oft the fluid communicationbetween port 22 and exhaust passageway 36.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 disclose the sampling device in conjunction with anautomatic liquid metering system. The sampling device illustrated inFigs. 5 through 7 is the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5shows the system just after the tank has discharged. Fig. 6 shows thesystem when the tank is tilling, and Fig. 7 shows the system when thetank is discharging. In the metering of fluids in many instances, it isdesirable that a sample of the fluids contained in the tank be taken ateach metering cycle. The sampling device of this invention is readilyadaptable to such operation in an automatic metering system.

Referring specifically to Figs. 5 through 7, Fig. 5 shows a meteringtank 60 on top of which is mounted a tank or chamber 61. The tanks 60and 61 are connected by means of a conduit 62 in which is positioned adiaphragm valve 63 which selectively opens and closes conduit 62. Afilling conduit 64 connects into tank 60 from a source of liquid to bemetered, such as production oil, not shown. A diaphragm 3-way valve 65interconnects a conduit 66 and a discharge conduit 67 and fillingconduit 64. This valve is adapted to tluidly communicate conduits 64 and66 when in one position and to fluidily communicate conduits 66 and 67when in another position. Pressure equalizing conduits 68 and 69 may beconnected to the upper ends of tanks 60 and 61, respectively. Conduits68 and 69 may be interconnected as at 70.

A oat 71 is positioned in tank 61 and connects to a liquid level controlvalve means 72 by means of pivotal rod 73. Discharge conduit 67 connectsinto a chamber 74 to which is connected a liquid level control chamber75 by means of upper and lower conduits '/6 and 77. A float 78 ispositioned in chamber 75 and is connected to control valve means 79 bymeans of a pivotal rod 80. A conduit 81 connects into the lower end ofchamber 74 for discharging liquid to storage or any other desired place.

The system for automatic operation of the meter comprises a series ofconduits, valves and valve controls, whereby valves 6 3 and 65 areactuated simultaneously to permit liuid flow through conduit 62 and topermit fluid flow through conduits 64 and 66 and to close oii huid ilowthrough conduits 66 and 67, respectively. Contrariwise, the systemaffords simultaneous actuation of valves 63 and 65 to close off iluidflow through conduit 62 and conduits 66 and 64 and to open fluidcommunication between conduits 66 and 67, respectively. Actuation of thevalves is controlled by the position of the control valve means 72 and79 which are in turn controlled by the positions of lloats 71 and 78,respectively. A conduit 90 connects valve 79 with a source of lluidpilot pressure 91. A conduit 92 connects valve means 79 with thediaphragm 93 of valve 65 and diaphragm 94 ot' valve 63 by means ofconduits 95, 96 and 97. A conduit 98 connects fluid supply 91 to valvemeans 72. A conduit 99 connects valve means 72 with diaphragms 93 and 94by means of conduits 95, 96 and 97. A double check valve 100 ispositioned at the juncture of conduits 95, 99 and 92. A diaphragm typevalve 101 is positioned in conduit 92 to iluidly communicate valve means79 and double check valve 100 when in one position and to prevent uidcommunication therebetween and exhaust conduit 92 between check valve100 and valve 101 when in another position (Fig. 6). A conduit 102connects conduit 99 with the diaphragm 102 of valve 101. An orifice 103and volume chamber 104 are positioned in conduit 102 for suitable timedelaying action.

Speed control valves 96' and 97 may be provided in conduits 96 and 97,respectively, to insure that valve 63 closes completely before lvalve 65iluidly communicates conduits 66 and 67 and to insure that valve 65closes oft iluid communication between conduits 66 and 67 before valve63 opens.

The sampling device is shown positioned on tank 60. A 4-way diaphragmvalve 105 connects with conduits 14 and 15 of the sampling device. Aconduit 106 connects conduit 99 with the diaphragm 107 of valve 105. Aconduit 108 connects conduit 98 with valve 105. An exhaust conduit 109also connects into valve 105.

v In operation, assuming that tank 60 has just discharged liquid throughchamber 74, the discharge of liquid `from chamber 75 causes float 78 todrop to a low position which permits lluid pressure from the supply 91to pass through conduit 90, valve means 79 and into conduit 92. At thistime valve 101 is open, permitting the fluid pressure signal to pass todouble check valve 100 which moves the valve element contained thereinto the upper position, as shown in Fig. 5, and uid pressure passesthrough conduits 95, 96 and 97 to actuate diaphragms 93 and 94.

The pressure signal going to the diaphragm 94 of valve 63 throughconduit 96 is delayed by means of speed control valve 96 until after thepressure signal passing through conduit 97 going to diaphragm 93 ofvalve 65 has actuated valve 65' to iluidly communicate conduits 66 and64 and to close off fluid communication between conduits 67 and 66.Thus, tluid ow from tank 60 is completely closed off before valve 63opens, thereby insuring that no part of the iluid in tank 61 escapesthrough 67 to cause a false measurement. Likewise, speed control valve97 restricts passage of the exhaust signal from diaphragm 93, therebyinsuring that valve 65 maintains closed ot fluid communication betweenconduits 66 and 67 until after valve 63 closes.

Fluid pressure on diaphragm 93 actuates valve 65 which permits liquid totiow from fill conduit 64 through conduit 66 into tank 60 and closes oitiluid communication between conduits 66 and 67. Fluid pressure ondiaphragm 9d opens valve 63 causing liquid contained in tank 61 to entertank 60, thereby causing float 71 to assume a low position whichactuates valve means 72. Upon the latter occurrence, fluid pressure fromsource 91 passes through conduit 98 through valve means 72 and intoconduit 99, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The tluid pressure inconduit 99 passes into and through double check valve 100 into conduits9S, 96 and 97 to maintain valves 63 and 65 in the same positioninitiated by the iluid pressure signal coming through conduit 92. At thesame time, the pressure signal in conduit 99 also passes through conduit102 and applies pressure on diaphragm 102' of valve 101, thereby closingoit lluid llow through conduit 92 and bleeding conduit 92 between checkvalve 100 and valve 101.

Valves 65 and 63 are maintained in their respective positions untilliquid rises inv chamber 61. This moves lioat 71 to a raised positionwhich actuates valve means 72 which closes oit the fluid pressure inconduit 98 at valve means 72 and bleeds conduit 99 through exhaustconduit 99. The orice 103 and chamber 104postioned in conduit 102 areemployed to delay opening of valve 101 until the bleed signal in conduit92 takes over actuation of the valves 63 and 65 after discharge begins.Exhausting or bleeding conduits 95, 96 and 97 and conduit 102 reversesvalves 63, 65 and 101, thus closing valve 63, liuidly communicatingconduits 66 and 67, closing off fluid communication between conduits 64and 66, and fluid communicating double check valve 100 and valve means79. When valve 65 opens fluid communication between conduits 66 andk 67,liquid enters chamber 74 through 67 and chamber 75 through conduits 76and 77 and the raised liquid level in chamber 75 moves float 78 to araised position, thereby closing olf fluid supply in conduit 90 at valvemeans 79 and exhausting of bleeding conduit 92 through exhaust conduit92'. Thus, a cycle of operation has been completed.

The fluid sampler works in conjunction with this systern in this manner.Upon actuation of float 72 to a raised position, that is, just as thefilling step is completed and the discharging step is to begin as seenin Fig. 7, valve means 72 bleeds or exhausts conduit 99 through exhaust99. This in turn exhausts or bleeds conduit 166 which releases pressureon diaphragm 107. This release of pressure actuates valve 105 to fluidlycommunicate conduits 103 and 14, thereby moving the sample tubedownwardly through tank 60 to engage valve 33 and communicate port 22and discharge passageway 36 as described supra. The sample takendischarges through conduit 37 to any suitable receptacle 111. The sampletube 20 is maintained in this position until the liquid has dischargedcompletely from tank 60 at which time float 78 drops to a low positionwhich causes actuation of valves 63 and 65y which in turn causes float71 to drop to a low position which actuates valve means '72, therebycausing liuid pressure to enter conduit 99 from conduit 98 which in turnapplies fluid pressure to diaphragm 107 through conduit 106. Thisapplication of pressure aetuates valve 105 to lluidly communicateconduits 108 and 15 which retracts the sample tube 20 and exhausts thefluid above piston 18 in housing 10 through conduit 14 to the exhaustconduit 109.

As seen, therefore, the fluid sampler is readily adaptable to anydesired automatic tank metering system.

Having fully described the nature, objects and operation of myinvention, I claim:

l. A device for sampling fluids in a receptacle comprising a body membermounted on said receptacle provided with a valve chamber and first andsecond passageways, a valve member slidably arranged in said chamberhaving first and second positions, biasing means arranged in saidchamber adapted to urge said valve member to said first position, apiston housing mounted on said receptacle provided with spaced apartports each lluidly communicating the interior and exterior of saidhousing, a shaft arranged in said housing having a third passagewaytherein, an open-ended sample tube slidably arranged on said shafthaving first and second positions, a piston head connected to said tubemovable therewith between said spaced apart ports, said tube beingprovided with ports and a shoulder adjacent one end thereof, a plugmember movable in said tubing, said tube engagedly connecting with saidvalve member to move said valve member to said second position when saidtube moves to said second position, said first passageway fluidlycommunicating said tube ports with the exterior of said body when saidtube is in said second position, said second passageway fluidlycommunicating the interior of said receptacle and said valve chamber,said third passageway fluidly communicating the interior of said tubeand the interior of said housing when said tube is in Said secondposition and liuid pressure means operative in said housing adapted tomove said piston.

2. A device as recited in claim l wherein said valve member is providedwith a tube engaging seating surface and said tube is provided withsealing means between said one open end thereof and said tube portsadapted to seal off uid flow from said tube to said seating surface whensaid tube is engaged thereon.

3. A device for sampling liuids in a receptacle comprising a body membermounted on said receptacle provided with a valve chamber and first andsecond passageways, a valve member slidably arranged in said chamberhaving first and second positions, biasing means arranged in saidchamber adapted to urge said valve member to said first position, ahousing mounted on said receptacle provided with spaced apart ports eachfiuidly communicating the interior and exterior of said housing, a shaftarranged in said housing having a third passageway therein, anopen-ended sample tube slidably arranged on. said shaft having first andsecond positions, a piston head connected to said tube movable in saidhousing between said spaced apart ports, said tube being provided withports and a shoulder adjacent one end thereof, a plug member movable insaid tube, said tube engagedly connecting with said Valve member to movesaid valve member to said second position when said tube moves to saidsecond position, said first passageway fluidly communicating said tubeports and the exterior of said body when said tube is in said secondposition, said second passageway tiuidly communicating the interior ofsaid receptacle and said valve chamber, said third passageway fluidlycommunicating the interior of said tube, the exterior of said housing,and the interior 4of said housing when said tube is in said secondposition, a check valve normally closing off fluid communication betweensaid third passageway and the exterior of said housing, and fluidpressure means connected to said housing adapted to move said piston.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 wherein said valve member is providedwith a tube engaging seating surface and said tube is provided withsealing means between said one open end thereof and said tube portsadapted to seal off fluid flow from said tube to said seating surfacewhen said tube is engaged thereon.

5. A device for sampling fluids in a receptacle comprising a body membermounted on said receptacle provided with a valve chamber and first andsecond passageways, a valve member slidably arranged in said chamberhaving first and second positions, first biasing means arranged in saidchamber adapted to urge said valve member to said first position, apiston housing mounted on said receptacle provided with spaced apartports each lluidly communicating the interior and exterior of saidhousing, a shaft arranged in said housing having a third passagewaytherein, an open-ended sample tube slidably arranged on said shafthaving lirst and second positions, a piston head connected to said `tubemovable in said housing between said spaced apart ports, said tube beingprovided with ports and a shoulder adjacent one end thereof, a plugmember movable in said tube, said tube engagedly connecting with saidvalve member to move said valve member to said second position when saidtube moves to said second position, said first passageway fiuidlycommunicating said tube ports and the exterior of said body when saidtube is in said second position, said second passageway liuidlycommunicating the interior of said receptacle and said valve chamber,said third passageway tluidly communicating the interior of said tube,the exterior of said housing and the interior of said housing when saidtube is in said second position, a check valve normally closing offfluid communication between said third passageway and the exterior ofsaid housing, fluid pressure means connected to said housing adapted tomove said piston from said first to said second position, and biasingmeans arranged in said housing adapted to move said piston from saidsecond to said first position.

6. A device for sampling fluids comprising a receptacle havingoppositely disposed openings therein, a housing mounted on one of saidopenings and extending exterior of said receptacle, tubular piston meansslidably arranged in said housing and extensible entirely through saidreceptacle from said one opening to said other opening adapted toisolate a fluid sample in said receptacle, movable means within saidpiston means adapted to remove said isolated sample from said pistonmeans, a body member mounted on the other of said receptacle openingsand extending exterior of said receptacle and provided with first andsecond passageways, said first passageway lluidly communicating theinterior and exterior of said body member, said second passagewayfluidly communieating the interior of said receptacle and the interiorof said body member, a valve member arranged in said body member adaptedto liuidly communicate the interior of said piston means and said rstpassageway when said piston means extends through said receptacle andlluid pressure means operative in said housing for reciprocating saidpiston means.

7. A device for sampling uids comprising a receptacle having oppositelydisposed openings therein, a housing mounted on one of said receptacleopenings and extend-` ing exterior of said receptacle, a shaft arrangedin said housing, an open-ended tubular piston slidably arranged on saidshaft and extensible entirely through said receptacle from said oneopening to said other `opening adapted to isolate a uid sample in saidreceptacle, a plug member movably arranged in said tubular piston, abody member mounted on the other of said receptacle openings andextending exterior `of said receptacle and provided with first andsecond passageways lluidly communicating the interior and exterior ofsaid body member and the interior of said receptacle and the interior ofsaid body member, respectively, a valve member arranged in said bodymember adapted to fluidly communicate the interior of said piston andthe exterior of said body member and uid pressure means for moving saidpiston and said plug member.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 wherein said receptacle ishorizontally extending and of rectangular cross seetion and said tubularpiston is vertically positioned.

9. A device as recited in claim 7 wherein said receptacle ishorizontally extending and of square cross seetiou and said tubularpiston is vertically positioned.

10. In apparatus for metering and sampling fluid a metering devicecomprising a tank provided with eontrolled fluid inlet and outlet means,a fluid receptacle positioned above said tank, rst valve means arrangedlbetween said tank and said receptacle adapted to selectively permit andprevent fluid flow therebetween, a sampling device comprising a housingmounted on said tank, tubular piston means slidably arranged in saidhousing and extensible through said tank adapted to isolate a uid samplein said tank, movable means arranged in said piston means adapted toremove said isolated sample from said piston means, second valve meanspositioned on said tank adapted to fluidly communicate the interior ofsaid piston means and the exterior of said tank when said piston meansextends through said tank, and control means operatively responsive to arising liquid level in said receptacle adapted to actuate said firstvalve means, said piston means, and said plug means whereby when lluidcommunication 4between said tank and receptacle is closed olf byactuation of said first valve means, said piston means extends throughsaid tank and said plug means forces the sample from said piston means.

ll. In apparatus for metering and sampling fluids a metering devicecomprising a metering tank provided with lirst valve means forcontrolling admission and discharge of uid to and from said tank, achamber mounted on said tank, second valve means positioned between saidchamber and said tank adapted to selectively permit and prevent uid owtherebetween, a sampling device comprising a housing mounted on saidtank, tubular piston means slidably arranged in said housing andextensible through said tank adapted to isolate a fluid sample in saidtank, a lluid pressure movable plug member positioned in said pistonmeans adapted to remove said fluid sample from said piston means andthen seal against loss of actuating fluid, a body member mounted on saidtank provided with first and second passageways fluidly communicatingthe interior and exterior of said body member and the interior of saidreceptacle and the interior of said body member, respectively, thirdvalve means arranged in said body member adapted to yiiuidly communicatethe interior of said piston means and said rst passageway when saidpiston means extends through said tank, lfirst control means connectedto said chamber operatively responsive to the fluid level in saidchamber, second control means fluidly communicating with said firstvalve means operatively responsive to fluid discharge from said tank,and signal transmission means operatively connecting said first andsecond control means with said rst and second valve means and saidhousing, said rst and second control means cooperating with said signaltransmission means for actuating said first valve means for admittingfluid to said tank, actuating said second valve means to fluidlycommunicate said tank and said chamber, and actuating said piston meansto retract said piston means and plug from said tank, and for actuatingsaid first valve means for discharging uid from said tank, actuatingsaid second valve means to close ol fluid communication between saidtank and said chamber and actuating said piston means to move saidpiston means through said tank and actuating said plug member to movesaid plug member through said piston means.

Ray June 16, 1951 Lenhart Feb. 9, 1954

